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Browse alphabetically through more than 9,000 words in Dickinson’s poetry, as defined in the Emily Dickinson Lexicon, based in part on her dictionary, Webster's 1844 American Dictionary of the English Language.

J315 - He fumbles at your Soul

He fumbles at your Soul
As Players at the Keys
Before they drop full Music on --
He stuns you by degrees --
Prepares your brittle Nature
For the Etherial Blow
By fainter Hammers -- further heard --
Then nearer -- Then so slow
Your Breath has time to straighten --
Your Brain -- to bubble Cool --
Deals -- One -- imperial -- Thunderbolt --
That scalps your naked Soul --

When Winds take Forests in their Paws --
The Universe -- is still --

About Work

Work Metadata

Year

1862

Manuscript

Manuscripts:There are two, both written about 1862. The copy
reproduced above (H 262) is addressed "Sue" and signed "Emily." It
is a redaction of a semifinal draft in packet 19 (H 108c):
He fumbles at your Soul
As Players at the Keys --
Before they drop full Music on --
He stuns you by Degrees --
Prepares your brittle substance
For the etherial Blow
By fainter Hammers -- further heard --
Then nearer -- then so -- slow --
Your Breath -- has chance to straighten --
Your Brain -- to bubble Cool --
Deals One -- imperial Thunderbolt --
That peels your naked Soul --
When Winds hold Forests in their Paws --
The Firmaments -- are still --
5.substance] nature 12. peels] scalps
9.chance] time 14] The Universe -- is still
In the fair copy ED adopted all the changes suggested in the packet
copy, and made one more:
13. hold] take

Recipient

Susan Dickinson

Publications

Publication: Poems (1896), 86, titled "The Master." The text
derives from the packet copy, and adopts the suggested changes for
lines 9 and 12. The final couplet is omitted. One word is altered:
1. Soul] spirit